Pro Wrestling Update: Key Highlights
It’s been quite a week in the world of professional wrestling.
Both WWE Raw and SmackDown are winding up their storylines following WrestleMania 42, with some fresh faces coming in and matches lined up for Backlash on May 9th.
Meanwhile, All Elite Wrestling is busy ramping up for their Double or Nothing pay-per-view scheduled for May 24th. Darby Allin has been making headlines, with multiple titles on the line this week.
If you missed the action, here’s a quick rundown.
Darby Allin’s First Championship Defense
Darby Allin shook up the pro wrestling scene a couple of weeks back when he defeated Maxwell Jacob Friedman, capturing the AEW World Championship. Just days later, he faced Tommaso Ciampa during Wednesday’s “AEW Dynamite” to defend his title.
The match was intense, featuring Ciampa sustaining a visible injury and delivering a heavy drop to Allin from the middle rope. Ultimately, Allin managed to get Ciampa to tap out after employing various submission holds.
Following the bout, Ciampa shared on Instagram, “I met my wrestling soulmate last night. I suspect we’ll cross paths many more times over the next decade. Just mark my words—I may not claim the AEW World Title this month or even this year, but it will happen.”
Allin, however, couldn’t enjoy his victory for long, as a new challenger stepped up: Brody King. King expressed his desire to take on Allin, and it seems they will clash for the title in this week’s Dynamite.
Jacob Fatu Rising to the Occasion
Jacob Fatu, fresh off a victory over Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42, challenged World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns on Monday Night Raw. Fatu made a significant impact, particularly in creating new storylines.
Reigns, accompanied by his family, seemed skeptical of Fatu’s readiness but acknowledged his impressive performance against Solo Chicor and other competitors on recent shows. The Usos were visibly shocked by Fatu’s display against several rivals.
If Reigns decides to face Fatu, a World Heavyweight Championship match is likely on the horizon as Backlash approaches.
Cody Rhodes’ Powerful Promo
Cody Rhodes delivered a striking promo recently that blurred the lines of reality and storyline during an intervention involving Pat McAfee and Randy Orton. In his three most recent WrestleManias, Rhodes has faced notable figures like The Rock and Travis Scott, while he managed to best Orton this year.
On SmackDown, he made it clear he intended to “send a message” to those trying to disrupt his plans for WrestleMania, remarking, “Outside forces that think they can intervene—remember, you’re 0-3.”
Who will step up to challenge Rhodes? It appears that CM Punk may have his sights set on the championship.
Quick Notes from This Week’s Wrestling
Tiffany Stratton captured the U.S. Women’s Championship from Julia, marking her first title win after Julia’s 111-day reign.
Last week brought several NXT call-ups, with names like Ethan Page and Jaycee Jayne joining the main roster.
On SmackDown, Damian Priest and R-Truth managed to retain their tag titles against fierce challengers.
In a surprise appearance, Seth Rollins showed up at AAW Wrestling’s final event.
It was also noted that the son of WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner signed with the Tennessee Titans after going undrafted.
Kevin Knight will be defending his AEW TNT Championship against MJF this Wednesday after a prior altercation between the two.
FTR raised the stakes for a future match against Coop and Christian Cage, stating that if they lose, they will disband as a team.
Mike Santana triumphantly defeated Rich Swann for the TNA World Championship, solidifying his own status in the ring.
Lastly, in Japan, Kurara Sayaka surprised everyone by winning the World of Stardom Championship from Saya Kamiya, whose reign lasted an impressive 483 days.
AAA announced plans to introduce a new general manager next month, while Season 3 of WWE Legends & Future Greats premiered recently, adding to the excitement in the wrestling community.
